Taoism and Confucianism

12/23: In your pairs today, share the connections and HOW you see the connections between Taoism and Confucianism (something like proof). Underline the strongest connections (at least 2) on the front you your cards. Share your proverbs as well. On the back of the notecard: write down one of your partner’s proverbs (one you did not choose) and tell me either some new insight you have about that proverb and/or some smart idea your partner gave you about that proverb (this should take up only ½ of the back of the card). In the rest of the space, give me a sense of what you think are the differences between Taoism and Confucianism and why these differences might matter.

12/22: We are going to explore Confucianism a little, using Taoism as a springboard for understanding. Confucius was a contemporary of Lao-Tzu and both were trying to understand what it means to be human in a society torn apart by war, economic violence, etc.Read through the packet excerpted from the Analects (like Socrates, Confucius did not publish his teachings – they were likely published by his disciples). As you read, underline ideas you find interesting. After you read, reflect on what you read. In your blue books, write about at least 3 of the chapters. Tell me what struck you, what you found compelling, connections to your life and your way of thinking. Write about any questions or confusions as well. Write at least a page and a half.

We’ll work in partners next. Pair up and share what you read, what you understood and what you found interesting. Make a list of 5 ideas that you found most interesting and that best illustrates what you know (hand this in before the end of class).

Tonight, go back over the reading and your blue book and look for connections between Taoism and Confucianism. On one side of the notecard, make a list of ideas you find in common (you can use our class list of words to help you and/or find lines in the Confucius packet) that you can connect to Taoism. You need a list of at least 6 ideas for credit. Also, read the Chinese proverbs. Pick 3 that you particularly like. Copy them down (on the front of the notecard) and briefly tell me why you chose them).

12/17: Let’s build on what we have discovered so far about Taoism (and use my notes as a supplement for more). Together in groups of three, read the next packet of chapters from Tao Te Ching. Read this in a more enlightened way than the first, but use the same skills to make meaning of it (look for metaphor, analogy, imagery and symbol that help to illustrate particularly difficult concepts, mark areas of confusion, etc.) As a group, make a list of the imagery and ideas that strike you as most important – for these, make connections to what we have already noticed and make note of new ideas. Also include on the list any ideas/chapters/images that you still do not understand even after talking to each other.

Our next step is to explore these ideas through art. Come get copies of the Chinese poems I have. Please read through the poems and search for one that speaks to what you understand as the heart of Taoism. Make connections (at least 4 strong ones) between the poem and the chapters we’ve read n Tao Te Ching. Ultimately, I want you to create a piece of art that will help us to see the Taoist influence in the poem (we can talk about that…)

12:16: We started reading the Tao Te Ching (see "Tao Te Ching packets" below). You can respond to this piece of music on your blue book.

12/15: We started by looking at Chinese art. If you were out, please choose one of the art pieces (marked "China" below). Decribe what you see (plot, character, setting, etc.) then evaluate for elements and principles of art (color, shape, line, material, balance, contrast, etc.). Finally, what does the art suggest to you about the culture: what are its values, what is its terrain, its view of the world around it, of the world within, etc.). Fill at least blue book page.